Armenian MP argues for deeper discussions about Eurasian Union idea

YEREVAN, March 11. / ARKA /. An Armenian parliament member argued today in favor of deeper discussions about Armenia’s possible membership in the Eurasian Union that is to be built on Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus customs union.  

Speaking at a news conference at Novosti international press center, Artak Davtian, chairman of a parliamentary committee on science, education, culture, youth and sports affairs from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, said, ”We need  serious discussions. We ourselves need to understand what the idea of the Eurasian Union is, what specific benefits can Armenia get from it if it joins it, and what we may lose. Nothing can be ruled out, but I think that these discussions will expand the circle of questions, answers to which we have to get..”

According to him, ‘if we imagine that future member countries of the Eurasian Union preserved Soviet-era enterprise which used to cooperate with Soviet Armenia, and which would make investments, then the proposed union may recover Armenia’s potential, including its scientific potential.” "I think that from a purely economic point of view, it can give significant results to our country," he said.

However, he said clear wordings are necessary. "There should be no concern that the Eurasian Union  is an attempt to revive the former Soviet Union. I'm naturally against it. But if it is a system of independent states in which the membership does not result in loss of sovereignty, why not. Any union that pursues certain positive goals, and we see the mechanisms to achieve them is welcome," he said.

However, according to him, these mechanisms and goals need to be realized and a clear statement is needed that this is a cooperation of independent states. -0-